Staff Writer

Several dozen residents passed Arundel’s $2.5 million budget with no change to the mil rate.

The 40 residents on June 9 approved 36 articles that change the town’s land-use ordinance and department budgets.

While the meeting was short – just over 90 minutes – selectmen encouraged participation and many residents used the meeting to ask selectmen, Town Manger John Fraser and Town Planner Tad Redway specifics on how each amendment would directly affect the town’s citizens.

A change to the town’s signage section of the land-use ordinance was approved, but not without some concern from residents.

“I only have one problem. This exempts the town from the provisions,” said resident Richard Gagnon.

Redway said the exemption would benefit the town and residents because it would allow signs on municipal properties such as schools.

“Always look at the town different than a business,” he said.

Fraser said the town previously had an exemption but it “somehow” was dropped around 1999.

Redway said the town is addressing the lack of an exemption now because of a new historical monument is being installed.

“Frankly speaking, municipal signs are always exempt,” Redway said. “We have a situation where the town did a project. Somewhere along the line, we realized ‘where do we put our signage?”

The exemption was passed.

Before voting on the town budget, resident Diane Robbins asked Fraser how the proposed budget would affect the mil rate and how much money was in the town’s reserve account. Robbins noted that the budget was not actually flat because the town was using reserve funds to help keep the mil rate down.

Fraser said there would be no increase to the mil rate. He said most years the town uses approximately $200,000 to balance the budget, as do other towns, including Kennebunk, and the town currently has a  $1.7 million reserve.

Meeting participants also passed an article that approved $5,000 to buy membership dues to the Eastern Trail Association for the 3.4-mile trial being built on Eastern Trail-owned land.

The proposal would allow Arundel to be part of the Eastern Trail District that helps make decisions on what is allowed on the trail – such as ATVs – and how the trail in Arundel will be cleaned and snow removed.

Neither selectmen nor the budget board recommended approval.

“We wanted you to have a choice,” said Selectman Chairman Dana Peck. “The main reason for the hesitation was maintenance costs.”

Fraser said during the time the budget was being finalized between both boards, the town’s liability and cost of cleanup were top concerns. Fraser said he spoke with the town manager of Scarborough who told him the town’s annual maintenance costs were roughly $1,500.

Redway, who said he favored staying in the association, said the trial association carried its own liability policy.

“This is economic development; this (trail) will potentially introduce the tourist industry to us. (Bikers on the trail) will need places to stay, places to stop and get some food. Arundel is in the prime position to build on this,” Redway said.

Aside from the town paying additional revenue because of the trail,  Redway said it could be used for ATV vehicles, some of which are currently being used to trespass private property owned by natural gas utility, Unitel.

The article passed, although residents will vote annually whether to continue membership.

Residents also approved a slightly higher recreation department budget. It was the only department to see an increase.

Fraser said the $22,000 increase in the department’s budget came from $16,000 in additional supplies for programs and the rest from adding four hours to one employee’s work week.  He said additional revenues from the recreation department’s programs in town would augment the increase.

The rest of the budget and remaining articles passed with little or no discussion.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.